Atletico Madrid may be able to replace Thomas Partey from within their ranks

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Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey is one of the most in-demand players for the upcoming summer transfer window.

The Ghana international has starred for Diego Simeone’s side this campaign and particularly impressed in both Champions League games against Liverpool. That has acted as a catalyst for reports linking him with a move to Arsenal.

Partey’s current deal in the Spanish capital runs through to 2023 but, pertinently, it contains a release clause of £43.5m. The financial impact of the prolonged pause in football is not yet clear, but this is viewed as an attainable fee for Europe’s wealthiest clubs. Atleti are aware of this and are hopeful of extending the 26-year-old’s contract, doubling the clause.

Los Rojiblancos have become accustomed to losing vital components of their squad in recent times.

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Club captain Gabi Fernandez left in January 2019 and six months later, a number of dressing room custodians also departed - the long-serving defender Diego Godin joined Inter while experienced full-backs Juanfran Torres and Filipe Luis both moved to Brazil. Star players Lucas Hernandez, Rodri and Antoine Griezmann all left when their release clauses were triggered, joining Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Barcelona respectively.

Simeone has had to adjust to this reality and continue his side’s evolution. Those recent exits led to Partey gaining increasing prominence, prior to this season he had made just 59 league starts across four campaigns but this season he has missed only three La Liga outings, starting 21. He has nailed down a position in the centre of the pitch, having often previously been a utility player who was often utilised at right-back or in a holding midfield role - now he is being allowed to thrive with a run in his strongest position, conversely spiking interest from rival clubs.

But the culture at the club is defined by boss Simeone, who is driven by ethics and the value of hard-work with players fully committing themselves to these ideals. Driven by the idea of a collective effort with a squad fine-tuned to high levels of fitness and concentration levels so that the well-oiled unit remains fully intact. Atletico are all about organisation, discipline and self-sacrifice; Partey fits this profile, but he is not irreplaceable even within the club’s own ranks.

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Atleti are well-stocked in the midfield ranks - Koke and Saul Niguez are the two stalwarts who between them have clocked up over 700 first-team appearances. Yet the club also landed two high-profile central midfielders last summer - signing Porto captain Hector Herrera on a free transfer and spending a notable £34m to sign Marcos Llorente from across the Spanish capital.

Despite being a prominent player in Portugal over six seasons, he has only started nine La Liga games for Diego Simeone’s side to date this campaign. He did feature in 19 consecutive games earlier in the season but has since fallen out of favour. Aged just 30, the Mexican international is ready-made to replace Partey in the middle of the pitch. Adept at providing energy and zest, Herrera would also be able to replace the Ghanaian’s ball-carrying skills and interceptions.

Llorente is another summer arrival who, in Atleti’s last match, showed there is much more still to come. The 25-year-old has only started eight matches across La Liga and the Champions League this term. Prior to the trip to Anfield, the central midfielder had only scored three goals in professional football - while just one had come in league football. He joined Atleti as the theoretical replacement for City-bound Rodri but has yet to be granted a regular run of games, and it may indeed turn out he will replace Partey.

Partey would fit in at any club in European football, and Arsenal will be desperate to land their man.